A Restored Palazzetto on Rio della Sensa, Venice
Nicola Padovan grew up in Venice. Silvia Fernandez Pujals came from Barcelona. Together they found a three-floor palazzetto on the Rio della Sensa and restored it. The building's past is in the ground floor. A coffee roastery once operated there, and the high ceilings and thick walls remain. The restoration kept what mattered—Venetian terrazzo, Calce del Brenta marmorino, original beams—and layered in an edited furniture collection of Noguchi lamps, Bouroullec chairs, Venini glassware, Vibia lighting. There are Fantin kitchens on two floors, as well as a 120-square-meter walled garden, which is almost unheard of in this part of the city.
The palazzetto's layout follows the classic Serenissima sequence: pass-through halls from which each room opens in turn. That structure has been left intact. What has changed is the palette, with each room in a different tone that creates its own identity without breaking the building's overall calm. Rooms are lit by a Fortuny Scudo Saraceno silk ceiling lamp, a Still table in copper by Fantin, a NIC Design bathroom in sage green or powder pink. The home reads as the work of two people who know exactly what they like and took their time getting there.
The ground floor holds two double bedrooms, each en suite, and each with canal or garden views, alongside a library and TV room and a Fantin Frame Kitchen designed by Salvatore Indriolo: graphic, minimal, fully equipped. The first floor mirrors this arrangement with two further double bedrooms, a second sitting room, and a Valcucine gallery-style kitchen. Throughout are terrazzo floors, marmorino walls, Simmons Natural Heritage beds, and Fantin's Uno shelving system repurposed as wardrobes, pantries, and bookshelves.
The garden is a rare find in north Cannaregio and entirely private. It is accessed from the ground floor and faces south. Fantin outdoor furniture (Still tables in copper finish, Hug stools and a tall Hug table in Pink Clay) surrounds a Frame Kitchen Outdoor, making it a functional space for breakfast or a long evening meal.
What we love
We love that Fortuny lamp above the bed — silk, made on the Giudecca, three kilometers from where you're sleeping. If you feel like venturing out, Anice Stellato is literally on the same street, with its short seasonal menu, natural wines, and tables full of locals who all booked ahead. But it's the garden that's the draw, offering evenings with a glass of something, that particular Cannaregio quiet, and no reason to be anywhere else.
Layout
This vacation home for rent in Venice, Cannaregio, sleeps up to eight guests. The palazzetto extends across three floors and approximately 330 square meters. The ground floor holds two double bedrooms, each with a private en-suite bathroom, plus a library and sitting room, and a Fantin kitchen. The first floor holds two double bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, a second sitting/TV room, and a Valcucine kitchen. The garden is accessed from the ground floor. A stone staircase connects the floors, and there is no elevator.
Bedroom 1 — Double, en suite, canal view
Bedroom 2 — Double, en suite, garden view
Bedroom 3 — Double, en suite, canal view
Bedroom 4 — Double, en suite
Experiences
Silvia and Nicola are on hand to share the Cannaregio they know, the canalside walks, the right osteria to book on a Tuesday, the vaporetto route to Murano for glass. The outdoor kitchen in the garden is set up for long shared meals, with a professional barbecue available on request.
Good to know
There is no elevator. Use is subject to quiet hours in respect of neighbors. Late arrivals incur a supplement. The city tourist tax is €4 per person per night for the first five nights, payable in cash on arrival. Keys are handed over in person. A 24-hour emergency number is provided. For stays over seven nights, linen is changed weekly.
Amenities & services
Air conditioning throughout, Wi-Fi, two fully equipped kitchens (Fantin Frame Kitchen ground floor; Valcucine gallery kitchen first floor), outdoor kitchen, barbecue on request, private walled garden, library and TV room (ground floor), sitting and TV room (first floor), Simmons Natural Heritage beds, Venini glassware, carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, stairs (no elevator)
Around
Cannaregio's northern fondamente are among the least-touristed in Venice. The Rio della Sensa runs past the front of the house, while the Rio della Misericordia is a short walk east, with canalside bars and a stretch of restaurants used by both locals and Biennale visitors. The Church of the Madonna dell'Orto, famous for its Tintoretto altarpieces, is a 10-minute walk. The Jewish Ghetto, with its five historic synagogues, is nearby. Rialto is reachable on foot in around 12 minutes. The vaporetto stops at Sant'Alvise and Madonna dell'Orto give access to Murano, the Lido, and the Biennale pavilions at Giardini and Arsenale.
Location
Cannaregio, Venice, Italy. Nearest airport: Marco Polo (VCE, 13km)
Best time to visit
Late spring (April to June) and early autumn (September to October) offer mild weather and fewer crowds. The Venice Biennale (even-numbered years, June–November) brings an added cultural pulse to the neighborhood.
